Day-Storms Studio

Forget cold fusion…if only scientists could harness the seemingly endless energy levels of a 3-year-old boy hopped up on chocolate, apple juice, and Blippi!

It is difficult to tell which child has more boundless energy, Spider-Man* or Bonecrusher*, but there is no doubt that they can easily outlast Rocky Balboa in the ring. I try my best to be as active a father as I can; unfortunately, at some point, I must know when to take my kids somewhere to spend their energy that does not completely deplete me of what little remains of mine.

One of my previous co-workers told me he has a stopwatch that he uses to do run relay time trials with his three sons whenever these moments happen. I haven’t resorted to that (yet), and I am quite certain that Bonecrusher would figure it out quickly. So, what do we do or have done?

Parks & Playgrounds

We are lucky or blessed to live in an area with many city parks and playgrounds as well as a fairly hospitable climate. Playgrounds are always safe bets with my boys. However, since I have more than one child, I find myself running from place-to-place trying to keep a watchful eye on each boy if I am taking them to the park by myself. Parks here (in Florida) are usually packed, so it is not like the scene on TV where the parent is sitting back, reading leisurely while the children frolic on the swingset. If my wife is with me, then playgrounds are amazing because we can always divide & conquer…with the occasional tag team, if need be.

Spider-Man and Bonecrusher each have their own favorite parks or playgrounds in our area. In general, though, the playgrounds with unique sets are those that my sons love the best. For example, the Rotary Playground at Hernando’s Landing at Lake Parker in Lakeland with the zipline and the big pirate ship is a big hit in our house. [The blog Lakeland Mom does an amazing job writing about this playground with pictures and videos–check it out!]

Indoor Facilities

It is not always possible to go outside and play. Not everyone lives in a climate that provides year-long kid-friendly (or Dad-friendly) playground opportunities. Sometimes, you just need to take your kids to an indoor playground to let them go wild.

If you live near an indoor playground facility, use it. It is phenomenal.

Our city has a company called Family Fun Center. [No, I am not getting paid for any advertising their services.] My boys think this place is amazing. They are even too young and small to participate in all the offerings (laser tag, arcade, and so on), but Spider-Man and Bonecrusher do not realize it. They love it for one reason…the Funtasia play area. This limited-access playland reaches up to 4 stories in height with slides, ball pits, tubes, obstacles, and even cannons that shoot nerf balls. This Dad loves it, too, because you pay a small fee for access, and it is fully enclosed in a secure area. It is age-restricted since it is for smaller children, too. Parents can sit on one of the benches or at one of the tables within the enclosure to hang out while their kids play. Again, I say it, “Amazing!” If your area has something similar, you should definitely try it out.

Sports Fields/Courts

My sons are still too small for me to take them to the basketball court and let them go wild. Well, I could, but it would look like I had unleashed a pack of spider monkeys on the Harlem Globetrotters at this point. Right now, I still do sports activities with them, so this is not the best option for us whenever I am low on energy.

Currently, both Spider-Man and Bonecrusher are in martial arts and gymnastics, so the closest counterpart we have to shooting hoops would be either gymnastics equipment here at the house (trampolines, rings, and such) or we all do have boxing gloves to go duke it out with the heavy bag.

Ideas? Suggestions?

What are some things that work for other Dads whenever they are low on energy, but their kids are still on high octane? I am definitely up for new suggestions and ideas or new places to try.